Amazon is preparing to cut as many as 30,000 corporate jobs globally, a move that is expected to affect nearly a tenth of its international corporate workforce, according to reports emerging this week. Amazon.com the Seattle-based technology giant, once hailed as a post-pandemic powerhouse, is now scaling back following an aggressive hiring surge during COVID-19 lockdowns.
The decision marks another significant shift for one of the world’s largest employers, as it seeks to rebalance its operations in a changing economic and technological landscape. Reports from Reuters and The Wall Street Journal indicate that Amazon’s cost-cutting measures will impact key divisions, including human resources, operations, devices and services, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
AWS, the company’s flagship cloud computing arm and a vital part of the global digital infrastructure, has itself faced turbulence. Recent disruption to AWS caused outages across a wide range of internet services worldwide — including those used by HMRC and several UK banks. Insiders suggest that the latest restructuring is designed to stabilise the company’s financial performance and reverse overexpansion during the pandemic years when online shopping surged dramatically.
AI replacing traditional roles
Chief Executive Andy Jassy has repeatedly warned that artificial intelligence (AI) will reshape Amazon’s internal operations and workforce composition. In a recent note to staff, he stated that the rollout of generative AI and autonomous AI agents will “change the way our work is done.” He went on to explain that “fewer people will be needed for some of the jobs being done today, and more people will be needed for other types of jobs.”
This statement underlines a growing theme across the technology sector — where automation and machine learning are driving not only innovation but also significant organisational change. For many corporate staff at Amazon, the rise of AI-driven processes could mean redundancy or redeployment into new technical roles that require advanced digital skills.
Impact on UK workers
Amazon employs around 75,000 people in the United Kingdom, forming a vital part of the logistics and retail employment landscape. While most of these positions are in warehouse and delivery roles, the company’s UK-based corporate employees could also be affected by the global restructuring.
Last month, Amazon announced plans to close all of its Amazon Fresh grocery stores in the UK, placing up to 250 jobs at risk. These closures, coupled with the latest proposed corporate reductions, signal a deeper review of the company’s operations in Britain.
For UK workers, this development raises serious questions about job stability and the evolving nature of employment in an increasingly automated environment. As more major firms integrate AI tools into their core business operations, the challenge for workers will be adapting to the skills gap and staying relevant in a fast-moving digital economy.
Economic and social implications
Amazon’s planned job cuts add to a growing list of technology giants tightening their belts amid economic headwinds, inflationary pressures, and the global shift toward AI-driven efficiency. Industry analysts suggest that while automation can bring productivity gains, it may also create short-term displacement for thousands of workers worldwide.
The Workers Union continues to emphasise that UK workers must be supported during times of technological transition. The organisation advocates for fair treatment, transparent communication, and the creation of new opportunities to ensure that workers are not left behind in the rush toward digital transformation.
As technology companies like Amazon refine their strategies to integrate AI into everyday operations, policymakers, employers, and worker advocates will need to collaborate to shape a future where innovation supports — rather than replaces — people’s livelihoods.
For now, thousands of Amazon employees across the globe wait anxiously to learn whether their positions are secure. The coming months will reveal how deeply the cuts will reach and how AI will continue to redefine one of the world’s most influential companies.
